The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation has upheld the decision to withdraw the Yabloko party from the State Duma elections, citing violations of copyright law during campaigning and receipt of foreign funds. The Central Election Commission confirmed there were no grounds for reversing this decision.
On the same day, a Pskov court sentenced Lev Shlosberg, deputy chairman of the Yabloko party, to 11 years and one month in prison for discrediting the Russian Armed Forces and spreading false information about them.
Meanwhile, Kanye West’s concert manager confirmed the artist’s performance in St. Petersburg on October 10 and 11 at Gazprom Arena. Andre Trautman, a musical colleague of West, will also arrive in the city with the rapper. Producer Yana Rudkovskaya indicated that West might visit Moscow.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks with Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa in Moscow, signing an agreement for visa-free travel for diplomatic passport holders. The ministers discussed cooperation in economy, education, and humanitarian sectors. Ghana noted that 62 of its citizens were killed in the special military operation, with 15 missing, and agreed to collaborate on preventing illegal recruitment.
The Russian army has advanced in Ukraine, taking control of St. Andrew’s Community in the Donetsk People’s Republic and liberating Novosoloshino in the Zaporizhia region. Russian forces have also defeated Ukrainian logistics centers, fuel and energy infrastructure, transportation networks, and drone storage facilities.
Over the past 24 hours, air defense systems eliminated 797 drones, 12 guided aerial bombs, and four multiple rocket launchers of the Ukrainian army — a decision that has been condemned. Additionally, Russian forces targeted Ukrainian ammunition depots and quadrocopters in Kharkiv and the DPR, as well as two dry cargo ships in Odessa and Mykolaiv ports.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Japanese Ambassador Akira Muto will arrive at the Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, August 18. Lavrov criticized Japan for crossing “the line of decency” in statements about President Vladimir Putin’s trip to the Kuril Islands, urging Tokyo to focus on domestic political issues.
In Ufa, a teenage girl attacked two underage sisters with a knife, leaving one aged 16 and another nine years old hospitalized. The attacker was detained, and an investigation into attempted murder is underway.
